News

NI UMBRO SCHOOLS CUP

Release Date: 25/11/2010

THE Northern Ireland Schools FA is delighted to announce a new commercial partnership with global football giants, Umbro.

Umbro will become the title sponsor for the Northern Ireland Schools Cup for the 2010/11 season. The Northern Ireland Umbro Schools Cup is a boys’ youth football competition operating at four different age groups – U12, U14, U16 and U18 levels with approximately 64 teams participating in each age bracket.

·U12 Competition - Northern Ireland Schools Umbro Minor Cup

·U14 Competition - Northern Ireland Schools Umbro Intermediate Cup

·U16 Competition - Northern Ireland Schools Umbro Senior Cup

·U18 Competition - Northern Ireland Schools Umbro Youth Cup

Chairman for the Northern Ireland Schools FA, Stephen Blevins said: “The Northern Ireland Schools FA is delighted to be working with such a prestigious brand as Umbro, we feel that together we can have a mutually beneficial relationship, both in terms of raising the profile of our various competitions but also in providing opportunities for schools to develop football.

“The Schools Cup is a magnificent competition that has been the highlight of many schoolboys’ football career. For some it is the biggest moment of their sporting lives and for others it has become a platform to develop further, as many of the senior international squad have played in this historic tournament.

“The Senior Cup dates back as far as 1925. We are an organisation trying to move forward building relationships with major players such as Umbro, having our website redeveloped (by Wholeschool.tv) and being on Facebook are all progressive steps NISFA are taking.”

Umbro’s Phillip Mitchell reinforced their desire to develop football across the country: “Umbro have been at the forefront of football across Northern Ireland for many years building on their heritage of a strong authentic football platform. From grassroots through to centres of excellence and from domestic football at every level through to international football at every level, we have become the nation’s brand of choice.

“So we are supportingfootball in this countryat all levels, not just on the field of play but also through coach education, whilstaway from the authentic football platform our brand visibility has stretched to a much wider football culturalaudience.Now we have the opportunity to make an official impact on schools football, and we look forward to partnering the NISFA in their footballing journey over the next two years and assisting in the undoubted commercial opportunity that exists for all parties.”

As part of this deal Umbro are reaching out to all those schools associated with the Schools FA across Northern Ireland and will be offering exclusive deals to schools. Umbro are the original football specialists and have a wide range of products across team kits, training kits, leisurewear and of course all necessary equipment aids across the professional football arena. Furthermore, over the upcoming months there will be other initiatives that the two organisations will collaborate on with the ultimate goal to keep driving football forward to Northern Ireland.

CUP DRAW SECTION

The NI Schools Umbro Senior Cup 3rd round draw took place recently at Windsor Park. Linfield’s Michael Gault and Glentoran’s Sean Ward carried out proceedings in an event hosted by BBC Sport’s Joel Taggart.Eleven teams had guaranteed their place in the third round before the draw, as the weather had meant five ties had been postponed, with a replay required to split Ashfield Boys and St Brigid’s (Londonderry) after a 3-3 draw in Belfast.

NI Schools Umbro Senior Cup 3rd Round Draw:

·Ashfield Boys High School OR St Brigid’s v St Colmcille’s College (Crossgar)